Cans of Soda

I am often looking for ways to visualize (that are not too offensive) and to explain the tactics used by traffickers so that they are easily understood. I came up with the analogy of cans of soda and their marketing.

We all know that soda is sugar, water, flavors and dyes- to make it simple- it's nothing more than flavored sugar and water in a can combined with branding, marketing, design and a promise of a dream come true or to live an exciting fantasy.

When trying to explain commercial sex it's like explaining cans of soda, just different flavors marketed as a fantasy, or a dream to purchase. It is as false as believing that Red Bull actually gives you wings, or that polar bears are happy and playful after drinking Coca Cola - at Christmas- with seals. ( I do love that one)

Stripping, pornography, escorts, cantinas (pony bars), Asian massage parlors, swingers, outcalls from websites, and BDSM are all just like brands of soda marketed for various tastes. Advertising for commercial sex, these tastes are created, manipulated, and marketed, primarily to a male audience.

In the documentary Sex + Money a pornographer states, "...there are many sick people in the world- we are just here to make money off of them... there are only a few ways people have sex so we have to create other ways to encourage consumption of our product such as violence, younger, and more disturbed scenes in order to create an ongoing demand."

So cans of soda are created- new flavors invented and markets expanded.

To feed the demand of commercial sex a supply must be created. Force, fraud and coercion are used and the marketing campaigns are overwhelmingly targeted to men.

If women don't want to buy sex, why would they line up in droves to sell sex many times a day, up to 40 in some cases.

Maybe an energy drink, or purchased sex, can give you wings or make polar bears smile? Or perhaps it's all just a marketing scheme, or scam.

A BIG Win in an Ongoing Battle

Since 2004, I have been reporting a location that has all the indicators of human trafficking to the human trafficking task force. To keep this in perspective in 2004, I was on the task force and was a trainer to the police- I was trained by the Department of Justice to identify trafficking and assist victims.

In 2005, I found a victim that has escaped from this location- she was cooperative with law enforcement and the task force however- still no results. We assisted this victim and she was later written about in the story the Lost Girls in the April 2010 Texas Monthly. In the hard copy of the magazine we included a photo of the building. Again, no results!

The location belongs to a man who owns many businesses in Houston. One is a car dealership and his wife is a special counsel for Chevron.

After public pressure due to van tours conducted by my friend and colleague Cat French of Elijah Rising the land owner was pressured into closing the location. In meetings with this land owner Cat offered to rent the building- so last week she received the key. I now have a copy of the key on my key chain and I giggle every time I see it.

After 9 years of reporting, getting media attention and filing a victim’s statement with authorities – a van tour closed the facility.

I took great pleasure last week in using a sledge hammer to break through walls that held my client Kiki.


I look forward to this location being a safe haven in the middle of numerous sexually oriented businesses thriving off the suffering of trafficked victims.



Teamwork, determination, prayer and forced patience led to this small victory.

How can you help?

  Please spread our story, send us notes of support, and recommend us to known philanthropists, social groups, churches and others in your area or contact list.

We can make a huge difference with your donations. Please donate, share, fundraise, blog or give us ideas on how to procure funding.

To help our team reach it's potential to help more victims to safety and restoration, send donations to: 

http://bernardokohler.org/programs/save-one-soul/

Designate "Human Trafficking" or "SOS" in the comments section and your donation can Save One Soul and make them “better now.”

Dottie Laster is available for law enforcement training, workshops, keynotes and presentations for schools, churches and organizations about all aspects of human trafficking, warning signs, prevention and reporting in an age/audience appropriate presentation. Please contact ImaginePublicity  Tel: 843-808-0859  Email: contact@imaginepublicity.com

Is it safe?

I am often asked the question how I can do this with such inherent danger? I have been working in the field of human trafficking for 10 years. I have in all that time kept the victims we serve, my team, my family and myself from being hurt. 

The next question is usually, "have you had threats?" Yes I have – not many but a few. I often say that they were not serious threats, only some frustrated individuals who were mad that we had taken their “property.”  I do respect the level of danger that criminals like this pose, however, I am not going to be deterred by it any more than I was deterred from flying after 9/11. I refuse to let bullies/criminals guide my actions due to fear. I think this is what they want, expect and hope for. It allows them to operate openly. When we are at our best we are gone before they even knew we were there. I am often underestimated which helps us to move like a chameleon in our efforts. We blend in and disappear quickly. 

For me the real question is, "aren’t the victims scared, or in danger?" 

If we are scared what's the climate of fear for the victims? I will never be comfortable knowing that I could help and made a choice not to - I am sure that will never be me. I'm not saying everyone must make that choice, but it's the one I choose. 

For me and my team fear is not as uncomfortable as apathy or inaction. Those are the things that I truly fear. For my team, danger may be present, we respect that, but fear is not a deterrent, excuse or barrier, in fact, it drives us harder, makes us better. We have a healthy respect for fear and use it wisely.

I often find that people who beat scared minors and women are actually not as tough as they think. 

When the victim is not alone, and has a team protecting her, the false bubble those thugs created suddenly dissolves. They are not going to go away, however, they are not as powerful as they portrayed themselves to be. They are often control freaks and their very identity is challenged if one of the victims successfully escapes. This may cause them to continue to stalk and seek out the victim for years. These are times when the victims are in danger constantly and when our help becomes even more important. 

 I often say it's the thing we are not prepared for, or expecting, that may get us, it may even be a trusted person or organization. 

One example: When we were conducting an attempt to rescue a young boy approached my security team at the motel we were operating out of asking if they wanted an Xbox. This was a very dangerous situation, in fact more dangerous that any I have been in recently, and my instinct was that this was a child used for crime, like a child soldier, he looked harmless but his eyes told me otherwise. We left without incident, however, this was a time when fear was reasonable. There is not a good answer for a situation like this and yet it is so common. 

We were involved in another case involving US citizens, the family has become divided and one of the family members actually assaulted the victim’s mother. These are not the kind of people with violence in their make up, but their situation is so horrible because their loved one has been trafficked, the family is divided. Again, not an attack that would be expected, but dangerous and hurtful. 

All this to say it is still probably more dangerous to fly, drive, or stand outside in a rainstorm than to help victims of trafficking. 

We get better with every case and learn more about what to watch out for every time we attempt a rescue. To date we have succeeded and the victims' lives and safety are improved by our work.

Growth: Case by Case, From Where We Started to Where We are Today

How it started

How I got to here:  a TV show, a need for bodyguards, security advisers and more. 

I was working to help victims of trafficking. In the beginning it seemed that with such a horrific crime things would just work as they should as soon as victims were identified. It's almost comical now to think of such an idealistic situation.

One of my first cases was a beautiful victim from Central America, Ana (her name is changed ). She was so sweet, scared and innocent. Ana had been the victim of forced labor and sex trafficking by a brutal organization that was operating freely and openly doing many crimes including smuggling and trafficking. She had endured years of torment, servitude, and violence. By a miracle, she was able to escape at a local grocery store while the traffickers were distracted. As so many of the amazing victims we see, she, against all odds, freed herself along with a trusting and willing stranger in the store. It was a tale that movies are made of, that one in a chance miracle combined with the compassion of a stranger, and it worked.

She was seeking to report what happened and the person who saved her was asking if there was protection because the bad guys were still looking for her and they lived in the same neighborhood. They were referred to me for help. Which, of course, I gave my promise to do!

I had just returned from the first ever conference on Human Trafficking in Tampa, Florida in the summer of 2004. The conference was attended by President Bush, Attorney General Ashcroft and several other of our nation’s leaders who had chosen 500 key people to address this most heinous of crimes. The participants consisted of US Attorneys, FBI agents, ICE agents, non- profit service providers and others who would be key to protecting victims and prosecuting bad guys. We were given the tools, networking connections and information necessary to carry out the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA). We were repeatedly told that this was a crime that was the fastest growing in the world and second in scope only to the sale in illegal drugs.

So when this victim came to us for help I knew we could delivered all the services and protections offered under the TVPA.

WRONG!

What happened or didn’t happen

I started with the very people who attended the conference with me. They told me there were no victims in Houston. Then, I went down the food chain from there. I was met with comments like, "I want to help you but my boss would have my head.  This is a sanctuary city and we cannot speak to any immigrants about anything." Phone calls and emails not returned or replies with messages encouraging me to go away. In my efforts to locate someone to investigate, police officers began leading me to more victims and cases, each time saying, ... "we know there are thousands of victims here but we cannot do anything about it. "

I went to the Mayor of the city and numerous times he referred me to the Chief of Police who repeated that it was a sanctuary city. In the time all this was going on the victim was still being sought out, stalked and threatened by the bad guys, they were even at her church, because, of course, they went to church every Sunday.

Being a person of my word, I continued. When I promised her I could help I truly thought I could, now I realized in my current capacity I cannot. I received a very quick and clear education about the difference between the way things are and the way things should be.  I went to the local newspaper. This action finally got attention and action on her case. I took a lot of praise, criticism, even outright attacks, but the only comments I cared about were hers. She was granted a t-visa and it helped her to become a bit more secure within our society. She married and had a beautiful child. She was so thankful.

I wish I could say that her case was just an early one where a new issue was not fully understood. However, many years later the lessons learned from helping her still apply today. The same attacks, barriers, apathy and gaps in the TVPA.

More Problems for victims

As the years proceeded, and many more cases came to me, I learned that in order to actually keep a promise to do your best to help a trafficked victim you must: 

Investigate the case before sending to law enforcement. So many agencies are overwhelmed,  understaffed or over loaded with bureaucracy that the idea of someone making this case their everyday priority is as outdated as my favorite TV series from the 70’s-80’s, Columbo. There are not dedicated detectives disrupting and irritating the criminals like he so wonderfully did. 

It's most effective to have cases packaged, written up and delivered to the appropriate place, on a silver platter preferred, bow optional.  Our experiences have been that we must give them more reasons to be able say yes than no. It's a huge burden on an officer to open a case, and much more attractive to not open, or even better, close a case. Human trafficking cases are like spider webs and go on and on and on and are the definition of "never ending.'

Understand, while not being pursued by law enforcement, traffickers are bullies. That means they want and expect the victim to be scared and with few social ties. I often say it is quite a bit more difficult to pick on me than a scared 17-year-old girl who is in pain. As one victim so beautifully described how she felt when our team was serving her, she said, "... it was like there was a big see through wall and we were between her and all the people wanting to hurt her." She felt protected. That is what we do. 

I have found that even though the victims escape society is a very dangerous place for them. Sometimes
when they do attempt to report (especially sex trafficked victims) and police/attorneys may use the Reid method of rapid fire questions in an interrogative mode. While this works to unbalance known criminals, it is absolute disaster for victims of long term trauma, and extremely painful for them. I also find that they carry an aura of the sex trafficking with them as they are healing for quite some time. I had one such victim live with me and she was approached by all types of perverted individuals, mostly men and even one woman, who would try to seduce her right in front of me. I was exhausted from removing them and I can only imagine how much more exhausting and hurtful it was for her. They would be introduced as trusted people such as counselors, mental health professionals, pastors, colleagues at work, etc. Without someone to filter and witness these events the victims fall prey to more predators or even worse become labeled as wanting this attention or asking for it. I can assure you these are just wolves that sensed a wounded soul and they are everywhere.

Know that the fallout from these disappointing and hurtful encounters brings back all the fear, and the victims relive the traumas they escaped. Our brains are such that what might seem a small incident to a stable, non-victimized person, can be perceived as an instant reliving of a thousand rapes for the victim. I get so angered when I see this happen because all the months of work, reassurance, progress and healing is often undone instantly. The most hurtful part for me is that the victims often blame themselves for this.

They need to be viewed from the perspective that they are trying to appear normal while being in a very crazy situation. They are frequently perceived as crazy, but often are very strong emotionally just due to the fact they survived.

Preparing them for after they make it through the gauntlet of the first months of rescue. 

They will want to begin to go to school or work, this is something that they all dream of no matter what country they are from or what age. However, many times they may not be ready or experienced for the next phase of moving towards self-sufficiency. They begin to make progress against many barriers and they truly begin to see their future. This is so fun to watch and inspiring to be near. However, no matter how hard we try to prepare them as they enter group situations like work or school they often have not learned some of the social skills required to survive in a group. 

This becomes sometimes even beautiful to witness, like when one victim on her first day as a waitress, twirled around the restaurant singing, "I love my job.” which, however, did not make friends with the other workers who hated their jobs. It's so difficult to watch them struggle and learn how to exist in society. It's like watching a young child learn to walk yet knowing they are going to fall probably many times. Again, the bullies usually surface pretty quickly, and while not as bad as the traffickers, and to the victims of trafficking it is destructive. 

Blessing and curse

As the victims begin to seek friends and romance this becomes even more contentious than for most people. As, we all know, good friends and romances are full of highs and lows even if no previous trauma is involved. For the victims this becomes quite a roller coaster ride. It's also just as volatile for the brave new loved ones who enter the victims’ lives.

I do so often see love triumph over the evil experiences the victims survived. In fact, I think that love is finally what heals them, feeling the love of God or Jesus, Buddha or any other higher power, of themselves, the children born to them which are true miracles, their rescuers, family and/ or a new husband /boyfriend that accepts them no matter what. I see them and hear from them as they navigate these new waters of unconditional love. Sometimes, in the beginning, it is actually painful because it is so foreign. This is where the husbands and boyfriends are often put to extreme tests and often hurt in the process. However, once it levels out, the results are so amazing and beautiful.

Just recently I spoke to a victim who said, “We are better now.” That simple statement made all the hard days, frustrations, barriers, bullies and other problems melt away and made me so thankful for the work my team does. I will be smiling for some time now and energized for months. 

Our needs of today

As our team grows we are including things like security advisers, bodyguards, privacy expert, a strategist and more.

I am so thankful for all the amazing minds that help us become better at providing layers of safety and comfort for the victims. They are now getting us into a need for steady streams of money, travel and other expenses that are now bigger than our team can cover with individual donations or just out of our pocket as we have done for many years. With this growth, we have become better, stronger, more efficient, and have produced increased positive results. We have gotten many victims protected and some traffickers prosecuted.

All this started 10 years ago when I thought that as soon as people know about the TVPA that all the systems would fall into place to help and protect the victims. Now, we can fill the gaps, make the systems work or be the system, should a working system not be available.

Our new TV pilot, titled Project Red Light is almost finished being edited. First reports are that it is amazing! We will know soon when it will be shown. This will be a use of one of the most important tools that has helped me, which is media.  Compassion is contagious, and nowhere can we see compassion spread like wildfire more effectively than the media and social networks.

When our show hits we will again grow in our needs, team, and even enemies. Our team is asking that we now focus on growing our donations in every category from micro finance, groups/corporate sponsors, to major funders. We are fighting organized criminals who often bring in as much as $200,000 a week at just one location. We have been working with less than $10,000 a year. We are truly up against forces stronger than we are, yet we do prevail. It is truly a modern version of the old story of David and Goliath. I love it every time.

How can you help?  Please spread our story, send us notes of support, and recommend us to known philanthropists, social groups, churches and others in your area or contact list.

We can make a huge difference with your donations. Please donate, share, fundraise, blog or give us ideas on how to procure funding.

To help our team reach it's potential to help more victims to safety and restoration, send donations to: 

http://bernardokohler.org/programs/save-one-soul/

Designate "Human Trafficking" or "SOS" in the comments section and your donation can Save One Soul and make them “better now.”

Males Who Protect and Respect

Recently, we were filming our new reality series, tentatively titled Project Red Light, about human trafficking in Houston. This was such an exciting experience. This was one of the few times in 10 years that we had a budget and the freedom to completely design the project the way I wanted, victim centered and victim first. We put together our dream team of the best of the best rescuers and combined it with a dream team film crew.

Our sound and film crew were seasoned professionals with credits that included To Catch a Predator, our producer/editor has worked on 2 Harry Potter Films and the network TV series Once Upon a Time.

We teamed up with the non-profit Elijah Rising and spent several days with this crew who followed what we do every day.

It was so funny because the big fear was that this high priced crew would show up that nothing would happen. I spent so much time preparing them for the trip and just kept saying, "It will be ok- there will be action, adventure, victims and danger," but they were so worried that we would not be able to get enough film in the short number of days we had together.

We did so well that they had enough before the main day of filming even began.

We could not have asked, or planned, for better film than we shot, it was better than the best minds could have scripted, more than all of us had hoped for, stories that begged to be told. Unfortunately, for victims, human trafficking is 24/7, rain or shine, no matter what, and in a volume that is incomprehensible to the normal person who does not do this every day.

We actually had so much action that the crew was traumatized. For instance, there was a pimp killed next door to where we were filming, bad for him, but very appropriate for a reality show on Human Trafficking.

For me, personally, I had the most beautiful and amazing moments; not due to filming or the amazing crew that was around me,  but because the wonderful film company M2 Productions hired 2 bodyguards to keep us safe. It was a beautiful thing that I have never experienced before, two men whose only role was to first, keep me safe and in turn keep the victims safe. 

When I was a child my father left us for another life.  My brother was much younger so I was his protector.  Later on in my life I found that my husband was not a protector. I realized during the day of filming that I had rarely felt the true male respect and protection that these men provided. It truly changed my perspective in a very positive way. I cannot put appropriate words to it but will try.

I felt as though I could speak my mind, enjoy the professional power I have earned, walk through a room and be totally respected by all the men and women in the room. The bodyguard next to me was 6’7” and all the men were submissive in his presence. For the first time, I could walk across the parking lot carrying my purse with money in it and not worry that someone could take it from me. I knew that wherever I went I was no longer possible prey, but a confident, respected, and loved woman. This was not a romantic love, but a protective love. I knew that they would stop any harm, disrespect, or danger in my path. Although it is just the job they were hired to do, it was everything to me.

I have never felt so safe, even when I was not in a dangerous situation. I truly loved it.

By proxy, the victims in my presence were equally as respected and safe, something I am sure they had not felt often. From hearing their stories they had always been prey, never protected. One who weighed less than 100 pounds carried a knife and was quick to show it and describe how she could use it to keep herself safe. She spoke of horrible acts of cruelty she had endured, yet boasted of being able to protect herself. 

It was so sad that everyone in the crew, including our security, was hurt by her tales. One man looked

at me and said, “ I have daughters!’ All I could say was “I know. We are not finished. We will continue to try to help her.” He gave me the biggest warmest bear hug I have ever felt,  nothing harmful, sexual or overpowering, just a genuine hug of protection and respect. I so wish everyone could feel this. I wish that love, respect, and intimacy had not been separated into commercial sex. I wish every male saw his own daughter in the  eyes of the victims that are bought and sold each day.

I wish every woman could experience the warmth of the gentle giants that protected me, and would kill or be killed for me. It is like a gentle embrace that changed my perspective on how I should be treated, and how I will be treated from now on.

It is what the idea of father, older brother and husband should be;  respect of a woman who is intelligent, powerful, and honored, although physically smaller and a bit weaker in strength. They allowed me to be in a dangerous situation and not be marginalized.  I could then focus all my attention on the victims and not be worried about the predators.

I do not think I have ever been better at my work—

Thank you to all our crew, M2 Productions, and most to the wonderful men who showed me something I had not known, their strength, their respect and protection. Can’t wait for more!

SAUDI ENSLAVEMENT ALLEGATIONS LATEST CASE OF TRAFFICKING OF FOREIGN WORKERS

by Brandon Darby on Brietbart

As US media outlets report on recent allegations by two women who claim they were enslaved at a Saudi compound in the US, many US advocates who help human trafficking victims wonder why this common occurrence is only just now being reported on.

Two women from the Philippines alleged that they were held against their will at a Saudi compound believed to house a Saudi military attaché in McLean, Virginia. The women claimed that their documents were taken from them and they were forced into servitude.

Whether these allegations prove true or false, an FBI Special Agent who spoke with me previously on the issue of human trafficking claimed such occurrences are very common in the United States. "The most common form of human trafficking I’ve seen involves foreign workers who arrive in the US only to have their documents taken from them," I was told. "They are forced into servitude with with threats of deportation or threats to their relatives in their country of origin.”

Dottie Laster, a leading advocate who helps victims of human trafficking with her company, Laster Global, expressed surprise that so many are acting as though events like the one being alleged in the Saudi compound issue are uncommon:

Many of the victims I help have come from foreign nations and have had their documents taken from them by the people who helped them get to the US, or they are sold to others by the people who helped them get here. They are forced into servitude for either no pay or for ridiculously low pay. Many predators will pay a small amount so that any effort by authorities to prosecute them will become more difficult. This is true whether the victims are from Mexico, the Philippines, or any other nation on this earth. We deal with this every day in the US.

According to Laster, these allegations are not the first that have surfaced against Saudis bearing diplomatic immunity. Laster told Breitbart News of a 2004 case involving an African woman in the US: “She came because Saudi Royal family members were seeking medical care here in the US. She was a domestic servant to them in Saudi Arabia." 

"Once here, she escaped with the help of another staff member," Laster explained. "She was brought to me and she showed signs of severe physical abuse.”

“The FBI got involved and the victim was allowed to stay in the US, but the FBI and US Attorney’s office did not pursue charges due to diplomatic immunity. I also reported the issue to Diplomatic Security Services (DSS)," Laster said. "This occurred while I was employed by the YMCA as an advocate for victims of human trafficking in Houston, Texas."

Brandon Darby worked with the FBI in an undercover capacity on anti-human trafficking efforts for approximately seven to eight months in 2011-2012. He currently helps to provide safe shelter for victims and assist anti-human trafficking advocates in ensuring law enforcement properly assists victims.

Brandon Darby worked with the FBI in an undercover capacity on anti-human trafficking efforts for approximately seven to eight months in 2011-2012. He currently helps to provide safe shelter for victims and assist anti-human trafficking advocates in ensuring law enforcement properly assists victims.

Historical and Modern Slavery Collide

I had been a bit tired lately and quite frankly a bit beaten by the work I do. This rarely happens but when it does it is due to such loss and destruction of souls that I sometimes witness. I was in search of something to amaze and inspire me but could not think of what it would be. Soon after this feeling began, I was hosted at an event in Washington. Since, I live in Texas this was a rare treat. While in D.C., I made time to go to the home of Frederick Douglass. I have studied Douglass and his writings since I was a young child. I was always so amazed by a man who freed himself by not recognizing the legitimacy of his enslavement. In a time when it was illegal to educate slaves he learned to read and write and later was the editor of newspapers and authored books.

In a time when the American Dream was not available to him he struggled and overcame the legal and social barriers that blocked him from his freedom. After becoming free, he could have stopped there however he continued to combat the institutions that discriminated against and enslaved others. He was a strong advocate for women’s rights, the poor (black, white or any race), improved education, and for prison reform.

He excelled in education, languages, family life and served his country in numerous ways though public service. He was a U.S. ambassador to Haiti, a U.S. Marshall, advisor to Lincoln and four other presidents.

In 2007, I was so fortunate to meet a direct descendant of Frederick Douglas, Ken Morris. I could not believe my fortune. Now, I proudly serve on the board of advisors to the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives. So when given the amazing opportunity to see where my historical mentor and hero lived I took it with gusto. Since I am unfamiliar with Washington, I had no idea what this meant.

Cedar Hill*

I found a wonderful taxi driver and we began our journey. At first my GPS was confused by the address. The driver also could not recognize the address. We stopped and asked taxi drivers at two hotels and no one knew where it was. I was so confused, how could no one know where this amazing’s man’s house was located in a city he had made such a presence?

So finally, thanks to Google, we found the address. I showed my phone to the driver and suddenly all the confusion was clear to him. He said, no wonder- it is in a place in D.C. that is very dangerous. He said are you sure you want to go? I exclaimed, Yes! I told him about my work and how important Douglass was to helping me combat modern slavery. He said, OK, I will take you.

So we were to drive only 5 miles but it turned into another world. We crossed the Anacostia River and exited the freeway. There he so politely said I know you are from Texas but it would be very unethical for me to leave you here- he told me that there was a recent time when there were one to two bodies a day found due to murder, drugs and other crimes. He said they would know immediately that I was not from the neighborhood. I rarely yield to fear of bad neighborhoods however at this time his advice was appropriate.

I giggled and said yes I agree that I would stand out- as we drove by a group of people who all looked to under the influence of several substances. He also told me this area was known for drugs, weapons and prostitution. I thought how disrespectful to my historical hero that in the shadow his home, a symbol of his overcoming historical slavery, modern slavery was flourishing. I was truly angered. I kept thinking the tour is free- why don’t they all take it and understand that they are willingly forfeiting their freedom to criminal enterprises? If Douglass were alive I am sure he would be addressing them. The “Sage of Anacostia” would not remain silent.

So we made arrangements that my driver, Mosh, would drop me off and come back. When we arrived at the home which is a national park we found it was not open yet. My driver looked as if he was again struggling with ethics. He said, I cannot leave you here while they are closed- you will not be safe. I must say I agreed- so again we discussed what to do- it ended with he would stay with me- I agreed to pay his rate with the stipulation that he take the tour with me. He happily agreed.

As I was worried such a wonderful park would be crowded and the tour at capacity, we had arrived 45 minutes before they opened. We drove around and spoke about the city, Douglass, life in the 1800’s and what a beautiful day it was. When the first park ranger arrived we followed him in the service entrance. There, we were able to sit at the top of the very elevated property and see Washington as Douglass must have seen it every morning. It was so breath taking. The home was on the highest point and the land below was flat and could not obstruct the amazing view. We talked about Douglass and how he must have been able to see visitors approaching his home as far away and the Anacostia River. We spoke about the strenuous life one must have lived even in a fine house such as his- hauling water and materials, walking or riding everywhere and being your own security force in a time where just by being alive he created enemies.

Then the park opened and we went on a tour- again more amazement!

Douglass’ house was a grand 2-story home with cutting edge additions for the time- he had a washroom built for his wife before people washed their clothes indoors, indoor water, and the most family centered home one could imagine.

He had achieved the American dream in spite of all the harsh barriers of the time and his most horrific entrance into the world through the system of slavery. He was successful in education, family, finances and health. My new friend, Mosh and I left so inspired and humbled by our experience that we now stay in touch. I cannot wait to return and learn more about what is possible in the face of adversity.

However, it also reminded me of the many struggles we as a society face today. All I could think of is why does the community around this home allow criminal elements to flourish? It is so disrespectful to themselves and to those who came before them. What would Frederick Douglass do?

In my heart I felt that he would not relax, that he would not rest or recognize the situation as legitimate.

So with an inspired heart and determination I returned home and began again- combating these same elements wherever I am called. It just reminded me that modern slavery occurs everywhere- not just in the shadow of Douglass’ house- it is disrespectful and damaging everywhere and must be disrupted.

Thank you Frederick Douglass for reinvigorating my heart, my drive and my passion. Your efforts pass through time and have given me steam to proceed – I can’t wait to visit you again.-

*photo  "Courtesy of the National Park Service, Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Understanding the Grooming Process Part 2

Part I of the series: What do bright college students have to worry about? 

Traffickers use many tactics to keep the victim under control. They use a spectrum of crimes to surround the victim in a climate of fear and distortion. The traffickers also use the judicial system to groom the environment to protect themselves. Many traffickers purposely get the victims arrested so as to empower themselves and further cause the victim to be isolated and dependent. All too often the judicial system is a willing participant.

A common example is the labor contractor or pimp who uses the threat of law enforcement when their victims start complaining. The trafficker will call Immigration and Customs Enforcement and report the illegal immigrant who is then arrested and deported. Problem solved for the trafficker and money in the bank for the employer who does not want to be bothered by paying for labor. The pimp may actually want the victim to get arrested as then he will be her ‘savior’ as he bails her out of jail (with the money she earned). He will then use this to further make her feel responsible for “costing him money” both for the bail and for the time she was not producing. This also prepares her for later when they all get caught she will do the time for him and protect him as all costs. He has then groomed her and the environment around her to make sure he walks and she takes the full punishment.

In the book The Art of Seduction, author Robert Greene has analyzed seducers over the centuries. In his list of tactics of the seduction process he outlines many of the tactics used by traffickers on the victims.

A few examples are:

• Choose the right victims- the right victims are the ones you can fill a void- a completely contented person is almost impossible to seduce. 
•  Create a false sense of security- begin at an indirect approach, an angle. The victims may be introduced to the trafficker by a friend or trusted family member. 
• Send Mixed Signals this will both fascinate and confuse. For traffickers this is a combination of being nice with abuse- of being attentive and tender with being aloof and cruel. This is the most powerful part of the coercion used on the victims. 
• Isolate the victim- Isolating them makes them weak and vulnerable to the trafficker’s influence. For the trafficked victims the isolation of a foreign country, language, culture even food is one of the traffickers best tools. For US citizen victims the traffickers will drive a wedge between family and friends of the victim. They will create discord that was not really there. This will have the victim off center and distrustful of the only people who could help her. Confused with no outside support they are easily led astray and controlled. 
•  Mix pleasure with pain. According to Greene, the greatest mistake in seduction is to be too nice. Inflicting some pain to make the victim feel guilty and insecure. Then a return to kindness will bring them to their knees. With victims of trafficking this cycle repeats over and over. In one interview a victim said he beat me with a wire stick (a pimp stick) “I was bruised and bleeding and I did deserve it because I had not made enough money for him. Then he gently brushed my hair from my face and wiped my tears. He really cared for me.” 

Continued in part 3- What will happen ot the target once “The Game” begins--

What do bright college students have to worry about? Part 1

In the past 2 years, I have seen a sharp increase in the number of U.S. Citizen college students targeted
by human trafficking. I also hear from victims that sex traffickers are lurking around high school and
middle school campuses. After the many campus shootings and the other dangers parents warn their
children about before sending them away from home for the first time it is unlikely that most parents
are discussing the tactics of “romeo pimps” with the daughters who have achieved academic success.

I have worked with more and more families as the hopes and dreams for their daughters are crushed –
the parents have been blindsided by an evil they may never have known existed.

The tactics used are that the recruiter will find a target, he will then create some sort of friendship or
romantic connection.

During this early grooming period he will learn all he can about the victim and she will tell him EVERYTHING. Her hopes, dreams, fears disappointments, every disagreement with her friends, parents teachers, etc.

While she believes he is listening to her out of affection, he is listening for ammunition to carry out his plan.

He will begin to introduce her to his shadowy life and it will appear alluring and a bit mystical- especially to a naïve academic who has spent most of her time preparing for college.

He will learn what she thinks about sex, religion, her parents, grandparents, her embarrassing moments and her highest achievements.

This he will then use to distance and isolate her from her life and into his.

To be continued-

Dottie Laster Speaking at Coastal Bend Coalition Against Modern Slavery Symposium

On Thursday,  March 21 Dottie Laster will be speaking to an audience of  law enforcement, health care providers, CPS personnel, mental health service providers, social workers, and others at the Coastal Bend Coalition Against Modern Slavery Symposium being held at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas. The event will be from  8-4:30 in the college library, room 514.

Each year, approximately 800,000 people are trafficked globally, and between 14,500 and 17,500 people are trafficked into the U.S. Most domestic minor sex trafficking victims are runaways who’ve fled an abusive home in hopes of finding a more secure, stable environment.  Traffickers prey on vulnerable women and girls, and use coercive techniques to lure women and children into the commercial sex industry.  It’s estimated that 1 in 3 runaways will be lured into prostitution within 48 hours of leaving home, and the average age of entry into prostitution in the United States is 12-14 years old.  Although sex trafficking is the largest form of domestic human trafficking, domestic labor trafficking affects thousands of Americans as well.  Victims of labor trafficking are frequently found in restaurants, traveling carnivals, peddling/begging rings, traveling sales crews, and in the agricultural industry…..Modern Injustices

Dottie Laster will speak about the grooming practices of traffickers, both on the victim level as well as the community level.  While traffickers often prey upon vulnerable youth, there is an increase of young teens being lured by traffickers who are good students and come from stable family situations. The role of some traffickers is  to gain the trust of not only the victim, but of other members of the family as well as those in the community, making it easier to prey upon a specific victim.

Event Details:

• Date:  Thursday, March 21
• Time: 8am-4:30pm
• Location: DelMar College Library, Room 514
• Corpus Christi, Texas
• Contact: cbcamds@aol.com

To schedule Dottie Laster for a presentation, workshop or training in your community, or for your organization, please contact:

ImaginePublicity     Tel: 843-808-0859     Email:   contact@imaginepublicity.com

Dottie Laster Speaking at Coastal Bend Coalition Against Modern Slavery Symposium

Why should we care?

The current discussion about prostitution in the Dominican Republic and a U.S. Elected official brings into light the focus of legal prostitution, child prostitutes, and a convergence of power and money with extreme poverty and marginalization on a global scale.

If prostitution is legal in the DR, should elected officials and their donors benefit? Is there ever an equitable way that a business transaction for sex can be executed? A young girl (by reports 16-18 years old) transacting for sex with in an impoverished country by negotiating a business transaction with an American whose power exceeds hers just by status and social position? It is a fairy tale to entertain such a social myth. If reports are true she did not even get the amount negotiated for and will most likely be punished for returning without the money promised.

A similar example is with the Eliot Spitzer case- a governor of New York and a young woman who had been a runaway, even though she was an adult at the time, it is reported that she was a runaway just a few years before at age 17. Then, there is the more recent case of former NFL player Lawrence Taylor who admitted to procuring a 16 year old for sex. He was given the extremely generous opportunity to plead guilty to a misdemeanor and even prevailed when the victim filed a civil suit against him. Exactly in what area of law is "I thought she was an adult" a defense? A 40 something year old man should not fail that test.

What is wrong with us? Does capitalism mean that anything is for sale and that we pray to the money god? Perhaps so in Houston- A 13 year old was arrested for prostitution and prosecuted all the way to the Texas Supreme Court. Also, the Houston Mayor responded to a request from a non profit asking her to focus on arresting buyers of child sex trafficked victims. The mayor's response was that instead of arresting buyers, we should focus on the landlords who are renting to the traffickers. Yet, since this letter written on Dec 11, 2011 there has been a settlement with a strip club- their attorneys are pleased with the settlement. Certainly not much protection for sex trafficked children in Houston.

If someone pays for sex with a child or enslaved person, is it then not rape? Is prostitution not illegal in almost every county in the US? I read the laws and they are very clear, however, when reviewing legal outcomes and national discourse I do not see the culture matching the law, I most often see the victims arrested, blamed, punished and prosecuted; and the traffickers, buyers, and financial beneficiaries protected, settled with, not investigated and even supported by local government officials. Should we not react with the same zeal we did to  the Sandy Hook incident? Should we not run to aid, protect, and prevent more harm to the victims/children and their families?

This crime is growing so fast that the traffickers are now targeting non marginalised victims – U.S. citizens aged 13-26 seem to be increasing. These kids are straight A students, achievers, surrounded by good social ties. WAKE UP! These are not just titillating cases of indiscretion, this is a war on children, on families, and on society, locally and globally.

We need to treat each of these cases as the most serious and not find ways to blame the victim or excuse the purchaser. I was recently in a meeting with a U.S. county attorney – when we discussed prosecuting the buyers he actually said “ that would ruin their lives and they most likely do not have a criminal record." I was shocked--- YES when you buy sex it is a criminal act in all but 11 counties in the U.S. – when you buy sex from children it is always criminal.  In Texas, sexual assault of a child can get you 99 years. (unless you pay for it- then the law is ignored and you get to go home to your wife and kids.)

PLEASE let’s put away the fairy tale myths and address this as adults-  who are protecting children- all the children, no matter whose they are. Without buyers, the traffickers will move on to other crimes.  The buyers are the problem, they are criminal actors and they are hurting many.

World Affairs Council of Houston Hosts Dottie Laster for Human Trafficking Workshop

The World Affairs Council of Houston has invited Dottie Laster of Laster Global Consulting and Bernardo Kohler Center to present her educational workshop on human trafficking at the Global Perspectives Workshop for Educators on Saturday, January 26, 2013. The event will be from 8:30am-3:30pm Central time and held at the World Affairs Council of Houston Office, 2500 East TC Jester, Suite 350, Houston, Texas.

Along with Dottie Laster, other expert speakers include Jeronimo Cortina, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and a Research Associate at the Hobby Center for Public Policy at the University of Houston, and Deborah Hubbs, General Counsel and Business Development Manager for GeoSouthern Energy Corporation in The Woodlands, Texas.

The day-long professional development workshop is geared towards Houston area high school teachers and they will receive classroom-ready information on the economic, political, and cultural issues of human trafficking, both nationally and globally. Topics to be covered by the experts are: Human Trafficking, Definition, Policy and Prevention; Human Trafficking In India; and Human Mobility and Foreign Policy.

Dottie Laster is on the front lines of awareness, education and training. Her work with such organizations as the Bernardo Kohler Center, as well as the Department of Justice, qualify Laster to work with law enforcement agencies and organizations across the country to get the message to the public that human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes affecting every country, even the United States.

Dottie Laster has served as a consultant to several celebrities in film and television projects and is featured in The Cantinera Documentary which exposes the life of the “cantina girls” in the Houston area. In October 2012 she was the subject of a feature story in MORE Magazine written by Mimi Swartz. She has appeared on several local and national television and radio shows as well as completed training of law enforcement and social workers for the state of Kansas.

Recently, Laster has created a way for victims to find that self-sufficiency by designing and creating jewelry for TRAFFICKED Designs and an awareness campaign called SOS “Save One Soul.”  To read articles written by and about Dottie Laster refer to her site, Anti-Human Trafficking News from Dottie Laster.

Prior to speaking at the World Affairs Council, Dottie Laster will be addressing the student body of Second Baptist School in Houston at 6410 Woodway Drive Houston, TX on Friday, January 25, at noon Central time.

Event Details:

• Date: Saturday, January 26
• Time: 8:30am-3:30pm Central time, Registration begins at 8:00am
• Location: World Affairs Council of Houston Office, 2500 East TC Jester, Suite 350, Houston, Texas.
• Registration Required: Cost $30  To register online CLICK HERE
• Contact: Mandy Seymour  713 522-7811

For information about scheduling Dottie Laster for your next event, please contact ImaginePublicity. Tel: 843.808.0859  Email: contact@imaginepublicity.com

Kansas Social Workers and Law Enforcement Receive Human Trafficking Training

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DCF social workers, Kansas law enforcement officials train to detect, combat human trafficking
Dozens of social workers and law enforcement personnel around Kansas recently completed training designed to further understanding of human trafficking and help prevent the modern day form of slavery.

Separate, identical classes focused on human trafficking were held in Hays, Wichita and Topeka. Kansas Department for Children and Families social workers, as well as Kansas Highway Patrol troopers, gained a broader understanding of trafficking from nationally renowned expert Dottie Laster.

“Dottie’s training is focused on the supply and demand of human trafficking. The blame does not just lie with the perpetrators who enslave and subjugate, but also with anyone who knowingly uses products or services that rely on the exploitation of others,” said DCF Secretary Phyllis Gilmore. “It’s important for social workers and law enforcement in our state to be well informed about modern-day slavery and how to rescue victims.”

Approximately 140 DCF social workers and Highway Patrol troopers attended one of the three training sessions.

"I was so honored to tour Kansas and meet such dedicated professionals who are making Kansas safe for trafficking victims, especially children, and unwelcoming for traffickers,” Dottie Laster said. “I look forward to returning next year and building on the foundation we were able to create."

Criminal traffickers use force, fraud or coercion to control and exploit their victims by forcing them into prostitution, domestic servitude or forced labor. The training emphasizes identifying and working directly with human trafficking victims. Participants learned how to recognize factors that indicate human trafficking and gained an understanding of the mindset of a victim, who may not be aware of their victimhood or feel comfortable seeking help.

"Everyone walked out with something new and a broader understanding of the problem,” said Toni Schuckman, DCF Wichita assistant regional director.

In recent years an investigation into organized crime in Houston, Texas revealed minors from Kansas who were trafficked and forced into prostitution.

Following the employee and law enforcement training, Laster delivered a human trafficking overview to educate faith-based and community leaders in Johnson County. Laster led the training overview of human trafficking awareness and facilitated a question and answer session.

“Dialogue was dynamic and the audience was engaged,” said Deputy Secretary Pilato, who also serves on the Kansas Human Trafficking Advisory Board.

Kansas statutes related to human trafficking require a prison term of 25 years to life if the victims of sex trafficking are under 14 years old. State statute also deems that even if a minor participates willingly, they are still the victim of trafficking. All who knowingly benefit from human trafficking are guilty and can be prosecuted under Kansas law.

There are an estimated 100,000 U.S. citizen children exploited in the commercial sex industry annually, according to the U.S. State Department. Cases have been investigated in all 50 states.


Contact:
Rachel Whitten
(785) 296-0537
rachel.whitten@dcf.ks.gov

Dottie Laster is available for presentations and training for organizations, churches, law enforcement and anyone interested in eradicating human slavery and trafficking. To bring Dottie to your next event, contact Laster Global Consulting or ImaginePublicity phone: 843.808.0859 email: contact@imaginepublicity.com

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